Blessing The Highlander (19 page)

 
           She smiled sweetly at Garrick and, taking his arm purred, “Are ye here to escort me to the hall, m’laird?”

 
           His eyes narrowed as he gave her a distrustful look. She surrendered too simply. That did not bode well. Especially for him. She was planning something, he just did not know what it was...yet. He shrugged it off for the moment. She must learn that in front of his clan she must show him deference. In private would be nice too, but he did not expect miracles right away. Respect must be earned. You cannot force it.

 
           He accepted the truce, returning her smile. “Aye, m’lady. We will go and break our fast if ye be ready.”

 
           They descended the stairs and entered the great hall, joining her father on the dais.

 
           “Good morrow, Garrick… daughter!” he rumbled. “Did ye have a good sleep?”

 
           “Aye. And ye?” Garrick replied.

 
           “Oh, aye. Kenning that my Seonaid is in good hands gave me a very pleasant eve indeed.”

 
           Garrick divided some cheese handing it to Seonaid. She smiled appreciatively and began eating as he called for some goat’s milk for her. Angus and William settled themselves at a table farther away in the hall as they, too, broke their fast. She gave them an aggrieved stare then passed it on to her husband. His cautionary glower went unheeded as she turned to Seamus.

 
           “That depends on what ye consider ‘good hands’, Father. My new husband means to guard me as if I be a captive!” she ridiculed heatedly.

 
           “Woman…” he snarled under his breath in warning.

 
           To her surprise, Seamus beamed with pride. “I would expect nae less from your husband! He prizes ye greatly ta take such caution with your person.”

 
           She was aghast with his response. She had expected an ally in this matter but instead he sided with her husband. “You think he is correct to do this?”

 
           Seamus gave her a stern look of censure. “I would be dissatisfied if he did anything less. Ye should nae question your husband’s commands. He is your husband… and laird. Ta question him dishonors him! Ye should apologize!”

 
           Was she wrong? She shook her head. She did not think so but, perhaps, she was wrong to involve Seamus in this little dispute with Garrick. She would think on it. Properly rebuked, she turned to her husband and whispered, “Forgive me, my laird. I will try to do better.”

 
           She chanced a glance at his face and caught the smug smile that flashed there for an instant before he quickly masked it. “Tis forgotten.”

 
           She was subdued through the rest of her meal as she mulled over the problem she was having with her wrong-thinking. Should she not be used to having guards her entire life in spite of losing her memory? She did not understand this at all. It made no sense to her.

 
           Garrick leaned close to her brushing his warm thigh against hers. “Ye should eat more, Seonaid, ta restore your strength.”

 
           She looked into his cerulean eyes and saw that look again. It was more than concern for her health. It warmed her clear down to her toes, making her heart beat a staccato rhythm in her breast. She wanted to kiss him. The urge was consuming… like a magnet. She could see that he felt the same. His breathing became labored as the attraction strengthened.

 
           Seamus cleared his throat loudly as he grew prickly with the intensity of their gazes. Garrick jerked back self-consciously.

 
           “I am full, m’laird, but I thank ye for your concern,” she blurted out not knowing what to say.

 
           “Very well. Finish your milk, at least, then if ye would like, we could visit your new mare.”

 
           Seonaid nodded her head heartily as she snatched up her goblet and drained the milk.

 
           Soon the three of them were walking to the stables to inspect the horses. As they neared the entryway, they overheard one of the MacGregors in discussion with Liam as he groomed Cadence.

 
           “All I was asking ye was why my lady had nae escort that day and why ye did nae try harder ta find her,” came Liam’s broken voice in the throes of puberty. “I would do everything in my power ta ascertain her safety!”

 
           The huge highlander let out a barking laugh. “Did ye hear lads?” he guffawed to his clansmen. “The boy is smitten with her appearance! Wait till ye get ta ken her true nature. She is a hateful witch who cares for naught but herself. She belittles all beneath her whether it be man or beast! I had nae wish ta bring her back in me midst. Twas hoping she was away for good, I was!” The other men nodded in agreement.

 
           Seonaid stilled dead in her tracks, stricken with humiliation. Her face pallid as the blood drained out. Her fisted hand flew to her mouth to stifle a sob as tears sprang to her eyes. She was crushed by the admission she overheard. Was she really such a ghastly person? She could not bear it! She picked up her skirts, bolting back to the Keep as Garrick called out after her.

 
           Garrick thundered with wrath as he threw open the stable doors stomping up to the highlander. His hand was on the man’s throat in a flash as his other produced a dirk. “Garrick!” Seamus barked at him. “Garrick! I will deal with my clansman! Ye need ta see ta your wife!” It was the only thing that stayed his hand. His blood boiled with the rage he was feeling. “Seonaid needs your comfort, lad, nae your anger. Go ta her. I will explain things after I deal with this swill.” He glared at his man.

 
           Gradually, Garrick slackened his grip on the man’s throat and sheathed his dirk. With murder in his eye, he spoke to him. “The lady ye declare nae longer exists. If I ever hear those words spoken again... ‘ye’ will nae longer exist. Am I understood?” The man nodded slowly, cautious of his fury.

 
           “But this I owe ye for besmirching her name!” And he smashed his fist into the man’s nose… satisfied to hear cartilage snapping as it broke, blood spurting out in a spray. Then he went in search of his wife.

 
           He found her in their chambers weeping softly to herself, as she lay on the bed hugging a bolster. He sat on the edge, drawing her into his arms tenderly. She crumpled into his loving embrace and sobbed her heart out, crushed at what that man had revealed.

 
           “Shhh, lass. Ye will make yourself ill.” He kissed the top of her head, holding her securely. “That man does nae ken ye. Do nae let his words grieve ye so, mo gradh. I ken who ye truly be and that is all that matters.”

 
           “How can you want me, kenning what he thought?” she sobbed into his, once dry, tunic. “He kenned me before and said I was an atrocious person.”

 
           Garrick smiled into her red-rimmed eyes, as he gently dabbed away the tears streaming down her striking face. “I want ye because I ken that if that were your true nature, ye would still be that way...even without your recollections.”

 
           She shook her head in denial. “Nay. You can nae desire me after hearing what he said.”

 
           He hooked a finger under her chin raising her gaze to his. She tried to avert her eyes but he would have none of it.

 
           “Look at me, Seonaid,” he insisted. When she did, he searched the depths of those green pools until he was certain that she saw his earnestness. “I wanted ye the moment I laid eyes on ye. When our minds were linked I could see who ye really be. Ye were nae selfish brat but a lost lass in a sea of fog. And ye were meant ta be mine. Do nae doubt that! Ever!” He kissed her ardently, greedily marking her as his own.

 
           Garrick retrieved a cool damp cloth. As he dabbed the tears from her face there was a scratching at the door.

 
           “Enter.”

 
           Seamus strode into the room, concern written on his face. “Are ye alright, Seonaid?”

 
           She nodded quietly as she twisted the plaid with her fingers. This man may be her father but she still did not know him very well. Not well enough to confide in him anyway.

 
           He eyed her speculatively, then looked to Garrick, raising his bushy brows. Garrick shrugged. “Twill take time, Seamus. She is groping around in the dark, trusting every tale told since the truth evades her memories. But the true character that is Seonaid sits before us this day. The other was only a wee part of her.”

 
           Satisfied, he grunted taking her hand in his.

 
           “I must return home on the morrow, daughter. Afore I go I would have ye ken the truth of things and answer any queries ye may wish ta ask of me. I will nae have ye besieged by doubts or uncertainty.”

 
           “I thank ye, Father, but I do nae even ken the inquiries I should make.” She stared at his rough scarred hand holding her own. She sincerely desired that she recollect something of her life with him but all she drew was a blank. She shook her head in defeat.

 
           He led her to the chairs by the darkened hearth. They sat down as he began, for the next three hours, regaling her with his reminiscences of her childhood. Garrick sat quietly on the bed absorbing as much of it as he could, envisioning Seonaid as a wee lass through Seamus’ eyes. He could see that Seonaid had clearly relaxed by the end of that time… and he had actually gotten her to giggle at herself by the time he was finished.

 
           “Ye were an enchanting bairn, Seonaid, and ye have grown into a lovely young lady. Do nae distrust it. That fool in the stable was spurned by ye a few months back. That be why he utters hurtful words. I admit that there were times your fiery nature got the better of ye but if it caused harm ta someone ye always lamented your actions.” He brushed a stray lock of hair from her brow tucking it behind her delicate ear. He cleared the emotion from his throat blinking back a tear.

 
           “Now, if ye have nae questions, I would see that fine mare your husband has given ye. And, mayhap, there be a gift from me as well tucked away down there.”

 
           A huge grin spread across her face as she darted a glance at her husband. Seeing that Seamus had restored her good cheer, he returned the smile effortlessly. Her father was good for her, he realized. He knew how to best sooth her worries away. King Alred had chosen quite well. He nodded to his lovely wife and they returned to the stables.

 
           She gripped Garrick’s arm as they entered the dusky building. It was not so dark that a person could not see but compared to the sunlight it was murky. Garrick began opening some small windows to allow the light in, as her eyes searched the stalls. She heard horses shuffling in the straw; some nickers were perceived from the rear as feet were stomped. A loud whinny came from Cadence as he saw Garrick approaching. The smell of hay and horse flooded her senses. She felt familiar with the sounds and smells. She turned to Seamus and cried, “I have spent considerable time in a stable!” It was not quite a question but she sensed it was true.

 
           He beamed at her! “Aye, lass! Ye loved the horses. Twas always a chore ta get ye out of the stables and into the keep.”

 
           She remembered...sort of. It was something she could cling to, to rebuild her self-confidence. Twas enough for the moment.

 
           She spun back around to Garrick, and looking past his shoulder, she sucked in her breath. The highlander was standing in the shadows observing them. He advanced toward Garrick at Seamus’ wave of his hand… bowing low.

 
           Garrick crossed his arms over his chest keeping Seonaid behind him and scrutinized the man when he straightened. Both of his eyes were blackened from his, now crooked… broken nose. There was a gash on his temple and he had a split lip.
I only hit him once, did nae I?
His brow raised in query as he regarded Seamus over his shoulder.

 
           “I could nae let ye have all the fun,” He grinned back at him. “She may be your wife but she is also me daughter. I could nae let the slight pass. Now…Sir Richard has something ta say ta ye both.”

 
           Garrick turned his attention back to the huge man and waited.

 
           Richard shuffled his feet for a moment gathering his thoughts. He looked Garrick in the eye and said, “Please forgive my unruly tongue. Twas only my opinion of your lady wife since she would nae have me ta husband. I did nae mean ta wound her. Twas jealousy speaking...naught more.”

 
           “What say ye, mo cridhe, is he forgiven?” He did not turn to her as he spoke but stood perfectly still awaiting her response.